Police Records

History of the Force:

The first police force for Baltimore Town was created in 1784. Constables were appointed and given police powers to keep the peace. The State Legislature on March 16, 1853, passed a bill, “to provide for the better security … in the City of Baltimore.” This statute provided that police officers should be armed and that a badge and commission be furnished each member. In March of 1862, the Federal military authorities who had taken control of the Baltimore City police on June 27, 1861, turned over the Police Department to the authority of the state. In 1867 the State established a Board of Police Commissioners (Chapter 367, Acts of 1867). Fom 1867 until 1920, the Board of Police Commissioners was appointed by the Governor. After 1920, a single Police Commissioner of Baltimore City was chosen and also served on the Governor’s Advisory Council. In 1978, the State Legislature granted the Mayor the power to appoint the Police Commissioner, subject to confirmation by the City Council (Chapter 920, Acts of 1976).

The Records:

Because the Police Department remains a State agency, most police records are considered State Records, and many are therefore located at the Maryland State Archives in Annapolis. Here are the series related to the Baltimore City Police Department at the MSA and BCA (BCA records are labelled with an *):

Board of Police CommissionersTrial of OfficersS1895 (1962-1975) and ProceedingsS1894 (1866-1966)- some of these proceedings have been digitized and are available online through the link, ReportsT2438 (1910-1914)

Reports: Board of Police Commissioners for the City of BaltimoreBRG68-1(1868-1955)*

Other Sources:

Personnel records are held and maintained at the Police Department’s Personnel section. They have personnel jackets (containing transfers, assignments, discipline, and commendations/awards) as well as microfilmed reports that date from the early 1900’s to the present.

An independently maintained website created by the late Police Detective William M. Hackley and maintained by retired Police Detective Ken Driscoll contains a great quantity of useful information about the department: http://baltimorecitypolicehistory.com/